Incoming
NBN Co
chief executive
Bill Morrow
says the national broadband network will be one of his biggest ­challenges, as he defended his experience in rolling out major telecommunications projects.

Mr Morrow admitted on Thursday that he had not read the strategic review released this week, which identified $41 billion needed to finish the network by 2019. But he said he would prepare a 100-day plan to reform the government-owned company.

“I hope it’s harder than Vodafone Australia because that’s the kind of stuff I like," he said. “I think these challenges are put in front of us for growth and to make us better people."

Mr Morrow will have the task of implementing a revised government policy aimed at delivering 50 megabits per second to 91 per cent of Australian homes and businesses by 2019.

But he will also need to fix existing problems and mend alleged mismanagement from the former executives of the company. The strategic review also suggested the company was overstaffed, with nearly 3000 employees.

“There will have to be some degree of rebalancing but I for one do not expect there will be any near-term reduction. That is not our big ­problem. It’s not a small number but $5 billion has been spent so far and there is another $35 billion to go. It’s much more important to get the right skill set."

The right experience

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Until now, Mr Morrow’s experience has primarily focused on mobile ­network, with previous roles at former Vodafone subsidiary Japan Telecom Clearwire in the United States, and most recently Vodafone Hutchison Australia. But he said he had the right experience for the project.

“Mobile’s a big construction project," he said. “It was a matter of working with third-party suppliers, operators don’t do this themselves.

“It’s almost like an automobile company in logistics management, dealing with different pieces that kind of come together to form the networks. This is actually spot on with what I’ve been doing with my career over the past 30 years," Mr Morrow said.

Dr Switkowski said the experience of former Telstra executive
Greg Adcock
at NBN Co and director
Patrick Flannigan
would suffice for construction. “I think we’ve done reasonably well in recent weeks to strengthen that side," he said. “Bill is a stand-out candidate and in many ways his leadership skills and communication skills, together with his telecom experience, is probably as compelling a mix of attributes as we had any right to expect."

Mr Morrow’s appointment ends a six-month search for a new chief executive, which began shortly before former chief
Mike Quigley
announced his retirement from the company.